Air conditioning system



Nov, 28, 1967 F. J. DEAN, .JR

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed July 50, 1965 United States Patent Oiiliee 3,354,946 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Frank J. Dean, Jr., Kansas City, Mo., assigner to Tempmaster Corporation, a corporation of Missouri Filed `uly 30, 1965, Ser. No. 475,998 9 Claims. (C1. 165-48) This invention relates to heating and cooling systems for buildings and refers more particularly to an improved arrangement for effecting desired heating and cooling with lower input power requirements than heretofore thought possible. The invention finds its most useful application in the air conditioning of buildings served from central forced air heating and cooling units for a simultaneous perimeter heating and interior cooling.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a system which lends itself readily to incorporation into a multiple story building and which is characterized in one important respect by the reclaiming and control of the heat liberated by the inside building lights so as to reduce the required heat energy input at the central heating unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conditioning system having perimeter heating and interior cooling and in which the air return to the heating means is directed in heat ex-change relationship with the room lights of the building and is segregated and kept separate from the air returnA to thel interior cooling system. In this manner I am able to lower not only the power requirements of the heating system, but also of the cooling system since the latter is not required to extract the heat of lights from return air. By virtue of my arrangement, I am also able to use up to 100% fresh air for cooling. In fact, I have found that through the use of my System the power requirements are sufficiently lowered that electric heating, with all of its attendant benefits of cleanliness and ease of maintenance, comes within economic reach in a forced air system for large buildings.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air conditioning system of the character described in which humidification is added to the building by the process of evaporative cooling in the interior cooling system, thus to obtain -both humidilication and cooling without additional heat.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a building air conditioning system which is highly flexible in its operation and which permits, when necessary, the exhaust to the atmosphere of the heat of lights rather than its recirculation.

Other and further objects of the invention together with the features and novelty appurtenant thereto will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification and is to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and schematic showing of a typical building equipped with a preferred embodiment of the system embraced by my invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating a ceiling light and the ow of return air therethrough.

Referring to the drawing and initially to FIG. l, I have shown therein what is in effect a schematic vertical section through a multi-story building. The architectural arrangement of the building has 'been purposely kept simple in order to illustrate the principles of the invention. lt will be understood that ordinarily such a building will have many rooms on any given floor. Opposite vertical outside walls of the building are indicated at with individual 3,354,946 Patented Nev. 28,1967

floors at 11 and the ceilings at 12. Located centrally of the building is a main air shaft 13 which is divided by partition 13a into two vertical side-by-side conduits 14 and 15 respectively. The side walls of the shaft are best seen in FIG. 2, these being identied at 16, 17, 18 and 19. The shaft has been shown as essentially square. At the top of the shaft are outlets from the respective conduits 14, V15 which are fitted with adjustable louvered dampers 2t?, 21 respectively. These dampers can be of the gravity type or motor controlled, in the conventional manner, neither the motor nor controls being shown.

The building is equipped with separate forced air perimeter and interior air distribution systems, the perimeter unit shown generally at 22 and the interior unit at 23. Each has a suction side 22a, 23a and a discharge side 22!) and 23b respectively.

The perimeter system for the building is arranged to supply heat only at the perimeter, or outside, walls of the building. To this end, supply or discharge risers 24 leave the discharge side of the perimeter unit. Each of these has connected therewith branch ducts 25 at the succeeding floor levels. The branch ducts extend horizontally beneath the floors 11 in the space between the oor and ceiling 12 therebelow. The branch ducts terminate in wall outlets 26. For reasons subsequently to be discussed, preferably the risers 24 of the perimeter system are located in the air shaft conduit 14.

The discharge of the interior unit 23 is connected to riser 27 proceeding upwardly through air shaft conduit 15. Branch ducts 28 extend from the riser into the spaces 29 formed between the ceiling of one level and the floor of the level above. The branches are connected with and feed the diifusers or attenuators 30 set in the ceilings. These are located at appropriate intervals as required by the building heat load and room plan.

The air shaft construction is such that the Hoor-ceiling spaces 29 above the respective ceilings communicate only with the conduit 14, i.e. the spaces are closed off from communication with conduit 15. As seen in FIG. 2 return air from the ceiling-floor spaces 29 on the right of the shaft ows into the conduit 14 through ducts 31 which pass through conduit 15. The same cross ducts carry therethrough the branch supply ducts 25 of the perimeter system running toward the right side of the building.` The spaces on the left hand side of the shaft can connect. directly with the shaft through openings 29a.

In my arrangement the ceiling-floor spaces 29 are in conn'nunication with the living or storage space on a given floor level below the ceiling through the ceiling Amounted light fixtures 32. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the light fixture is of the type that has a casing in which 'lamp tubes or bulbs are mounted. The top of the casing is open so that when a negative pressure differential is set up between space 29 and the room or enclosure therebelow, flow of air will be through the fixture into space 29 as indicated by the arrows.

The conduit 14 is connected with the suction side 22a of the perimeter unit through the medium of a duct 14a and the variable damper 14b. A second variable damper 14C is interposed between the suction side 22a and the atmosphere in order to permit controlled introduction of fresh air into the perimeter system. lt will be noted that the perimeter unit 22 includes both winter heating and summer cooling coils in order that it can become a part of the overall cooling system in summer operation.

The air return path for the interior system is through the conduit 15 of the air shaft. Grills 33 or other suitable flow paths are provided in the walls adjacent the air shaft on each level of the building. Where crossover between an enclosure and the conduit 15 is necessary, small cross ducts 34 are shown, these being similar to the cross ducts 31. The conduit is connected with the suction side 23a of the interior unit by the large duct 35 thereabove. As in the case of the perimeter unit, an adjustable' damper 35a is provided between the suction side and duct 3S and variable damper 35b controls the communication between the suction side of the cooling unit and the outside atmosphere.

The dampers 14b, 14e and 35a, 35b are motor driven and made responsive to the standard thermostatic controls. However, inasmuch as the control means as such are conventional and play no part in the invention, it is believed that further description is unnecessary. As shown on the drawing, the interior unit 23 includes also an evaporative cooler.

In operation in the winter time, the heat from the lights 32 throughout the building is reclaimed and conserved by redistribution through the perimeter system. The return air to the perimeter unit 22 is channeled past the light fixtures in heat exchange relation therewith and to the suction side of the perimeter unit through conduit 14. This use of the heat of lights to reduce the heat input to the perimeter unit can be carried out so long as necessary. It will be observed also that any heat liberated from the surfaces of heat risers 24 will also be picked up by the return air moving through conduit 14. Where it is not necessary, the heat of lights can be dissipated through the relief damper by simultaneously opening the latter and the fresh air intake damper 14C and closing down the recirculation duct control damper 14h.

In winter it is usual for the interior system to provide cooling to take care of the heat load in interiorly located spaces. It will be evident that the arrangement that I have provided makes it possible to use up to 100% fresh air in the cooling phase simply 4by opening damper 35h, closing recirculation damper a and opening the relief damper 21. During winter all interior areas can be cooled by fresh air alone if the outside temperature is low enough. This saves materially on the operating cost of refrigeration equipment. In intermediate seasons the whole building can be cooled by fresh air. By applying a small positive pressure differential between the inside and outside of the building, the needed heat of lights for heating can be channeled up through the ceiling-floor spaces 29 and up the conduit 14 to the atmosphere.

The segregation and independent control of the return air ow for the perimeter and interior systems coupled with the incorporation of the lighting equipment into the perimeter system gives optimum exibility with lowest possible day-to-/day cost to meet given conditions.

As earlier noted the interior unit 23 includes a humidifier in the form of an evaporative cooler which provides the required winter humidiiication. The taking up of moisture in the incoming air is accompanied by cooling of the air, thus to lower or eliminate the need for fresh air or refrigeration. Also, by my arrangement I avoid dissipating heat in the process `of humidication.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent in the structure.

`It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may lbe employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an air conditioning system in a building having at least onev room, said room having a ceiling and enclosed space above the ceiling, the combination of Cil forced air heating means having a suction side and a discharge side,

forced air cooling means also having a suction side and a discharge side,

heating duct means connected at one end thereof with the discharge side of said heating means and proceeding to and terminating at the other end in a perimeter outlet to said room,

air return duct means connecting said enclosed space with the suction side of said heating means thereby to impose suction to said space,

heat generating lighting means positioned in an opening in the ceiling establishing communication between said space and the interior of 'said room, said lighting means constructed to permit the flow of air from said room into said space and to guide same in heat exchange relationship with said lighting means,

cooling duct means separate from said heating duct means and connected with the discharge side of said for-ced air cooling means, said cooling duct means running to and discharging through outlets to the interior of said room, and

air return duct means connected at one end with an opening to the interior of said room and returning to and connected at its other end with the suction side of said forced air cooling means to provide a contined flow path for return air from said room to said forced air cooling means and operable to maintain the return air from said cooling means segregated from the return air being returned to the heating means.

2. In an air conditioning system as in claim 1,

said building including an equipment area,

said forced air heating means located in said area,

said air return duct means to said heating means including a central air 'shaft connected with said forced air heating means and extending upwardly through said building.

3. In an air conditioning system as in claim 2,

said heating duct means in part proceeding through said shaft.

4. In an air conditioning system as in claim 1,

said forced air cooling means including humidication means in the form of an evaporative cooler.

5. In an air conditioning system as in claim 2,

said forced air cooling means also located in said area,

partition means dividing said central air shaft along the length thereof,

said air return duct to said forced air heating means including one divided part of said shaft and said air return duct means to said forced air cooling means including the other divided part of said shaft.

6. In an air conditioning system, as in claim 5,

said heating duct means running in part through said one divided part of said shaft, and

said cooling duct means running in part through said other divided part of said shaft.

7. In an air conditioning system in a building having enclosed spaces above the room ceilings, the combination of a centrally located air shaft rising through the building subdivided into two separate shaft conduits,

a perimeter discharged heating system including forced air means having a suction side and a discharge side, first conduit means connecting the discharge side of said heating system forced air means to the room at the perimeter,

duct means connecting the suction side of said forced air means with one of said shaft conduits,

an interior discharged cooling system also including forced air means having a suction side and a discharge side, second conduit means connecting the discharge side of said cooling system forced air means to the room at interior,

duct means connecting the suction side of the latter forced air means with the other of said shaft conduits,

heat generating lights positioned in openings in the ceiling area, said lights constructed to permit flow of air in heat exchange relationship therewith from below the ceiling to the space just above the ceiling,

duct means connecting said space with said one shaft conduit, and

other duct means connecting said other shaft conduit with the space below such ceiling.

8. A combination as in claim 7,

said conduits having means connected therewith operable to put same in communication with the atmosphere for relief of air from the building.

9. A combination as in Claim 8, including variable damper means associated with said perimeter means to vary the suction applied to said one conduit and the introduction of fresh air.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,997 3/1934 Seitz et al 165-48 1,969,829 8/ 1934 Whiteley 165-60 2,004,927 6/ 1935 Bulkeley 165-48 X 2,206,119 7/ 1940 Persons 98-31 2,753,157 7/1956 Hoyer 165-48 X 3,010,378 11/1961 Geocaris 98-40 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. A. W. DAVIS, IR., Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN A BUILDING HAVING AT LEAST ONE ROOM, SAID ROOM HAVING A CEILING AND ENCLOSED SPACE ABOVE THE CEILING, THE COMBINATION OF FORCED AIR HEATING MEANS HAVING A SUCTION SIDE AND A DISCHARGE SIDE, FORCED AIR COOLING MEANS ALSO HAVING A SUCTION SIDE AND A DISCHARGE SIDE, HEATING DUCT MEANS CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF WITH THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF SAID HEATING MEANS AND PROCEEDING TO AND TERMINATING AT THE OTHER END IN A PERIMETER OUTLET TO SAID ROOM, AIR RETURN DUCT MEANS CONNECTING SAID ENCLOSED SPACE WITH THE SUCTION SIDE OF SAID HEATING MEANS THEREBY TO IMPOSE SUCTION TO SAID SPACE, HEAT GENERATING LIGHTING MEANS POSITIONED IN AN OPENING IN THE CEILING ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID SPACE AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROOM, SAID LIGHTING MEANS CONSTRUCTED TO PERMIT THE FLOW OF AIR FROM SAID ROOM INTO SAID SPACE AND TO GUIDE SAME IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID LIGHTING MEANS, COOLING DUCT MEANS SEPARATE FROM SAID HEATING DUCT MEANS AND CONNECTED WITH THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF SAID FORCED AIR COOLING MEANS, SAID COOLING DUCT MEANS RUNNING TO AND DISCHARGING THROUGH OUTLETS TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROOM, AND AIR RETURN DUCT MEANS CONNECTED AT ONE END WITH AN OPENING TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID ROOM AND RETURNING TO AND CONNECTED AT ITS OTHER END WITH THE SUCTION SIDE OF SAID FORCED AIR COOLING MEANS TO PROVIDE A CONFINED FLOW PATH FOR RETURN AIR FROM SAID ROOM TO SAID FORCED AIR COOLING MEANS AND OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN THE RETURN AIR FROM SAID COOLING MEANS SEGREGATED FROM THE RETURN AIR BEING RETURNED TO THE HEATING MEANS. 